Bologna Tourist Information and Tourism

(Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

Bologna is well-known for its food and for its politics, and is now regarded to be one of the most attractive cities in Italy, being full of character. The beautiful city centre in Bologna is well preserved and maintained, and is a credit to the city's policy of preservation. With unified architecture and marbled pavements, this charming Emilian city is well pedestrianised and easily explored by foot.

In the heart of Bologna are the city's two main squares, the Piazza del Nettuno and the Piazza Maggiore, the latter of which is where you will find the official tourist information centres. Further tourism outlets are available on the Via Don Minzoni, at the airport, and also at the city's bus and train stations. When it comes to accommodation in Bologna, the city's frequent trade fairs can have a big impact on room availability and price, so do bear this in mind when choosing your holiday dates.

From the Piazza Maggiore, most of the city's main tourists attractions and historical monuments are within walking distance, including the two leaning towers - the main symbols of the city, which almost seem to defy gravity. The Piazza Maggiore marks the oldest part of the city and this huge pedestrian square is surrounded by some impressive medieval and Renaissance buildings. Nearby, the Piazza del Nettuno boasts a well-known fountain, the Fontana di Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune). Bologna's Basilica di San Petronio is the city's largest church and the fifth largest of its kind in the whole world. In fact, the original plans had to be scaled down after the Vatican declared that this church must not be larger than St. Peter's in Rome, home of the Pope.

There are also many interesting Italian museums here, such as the Museo Civico Archeologico (Archaeological Museum), the university museums and also the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (National Picture Gallery), exhibiting the city's most important artwork. More information about Bologna Tourist Attractions.

This is a thriving university city and the enormous University of Bologna is Europe's oldest, founded over 900 years ago. The university is an international centre for academic studies, including publishing, and attracts students from all over the world. Bologna is often referred to as 'Red Bologna' as it was the first city in Italy to elect a communist town council and political views and opinions have always been important in this enchanting tourist destination.

The historic city of Bologna is divided up into districts and the city centre is separated from the rest of the city by large, ancient walls. Bologna does not usually suffer from crowds of tourists and so can be a welcome break after visiting busier Italian cities, such as Rome or Venice. It is one of the most overlooked cities in Italy and really does warrant much more attention. Bologna is situated 52 km / 32 miles south of Ferrara, 151 km / 94 miles south-west of Venice and 378 km / 234 miles north of Rome.